On March 31st, the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) was passed by the NY State legislature. This new law legalizes recreational marijuana use for adults over 21, expunges criminal records, and addresses social equity and community investment. The MRTA, which went into effect immediately and will continue to roll out through 2022, is a major step towards ending the war on drugs, which has disproportionately targeted and contributed to the mass incarceration of BIPOC.
Despite documentation that people tend to use drugs at the same rate regardless of race, Black and Latinx people make up a huge number of the over 1.6 million people arrested, prosecuted, incarcerated, placed under supervision and/or deported on drug law violations in America each year. At the state level, one million New Yorkers, 80% of whom are Black or Latinx, have had contact with the criminal justice system as a result of marijuana-related infractions, resulting in trauma and disruption for individuals, families, and communities. Even convictions that do not result in jail time can have disastrous effects on people's lives via loss of voting rights, child custody, employment, student aid, and access to public housing or other assistance programs.
The MRTA will address many of these issues and inequities moving forward, and past marijuana convictions will be sealed or reduced. MRTA also aims to shift business revenue to those who previously participated in the illicit marijuana market and offer micro-licenses at lower costs for small businesses to begin participating in the newly legal marijuana market. New York will invest the tax revenue generated by marijuana sales in public schools and community-based projects.
While the MRTA seems like a big win for racial justice in New York, we need to keep a close watch as it’s rolled out. We must ensure that the expungements occur as promised, that those who are released receive supportive services, and that resources are channeled properly. If you’re interested in supporting this work, check out our Anti-Mass Incarceration (AMI) Working Group that works with local and state-wide organizations on issues related to mass incarceration. Join us next Tuesday, May 4th, for a teach-in on the Manhattan DA race with the Electoral Gains Group!
In solidarity,
SURJ NYC
P.S. If you’re interested in continuing to learn about alternatives to policing, we highly recommend checking out tonight’s webinar about defunding the police with Mariame Kaba, organized by SURJ national.